Despite Labour Party win, MPs lose seats to pro-Palestinian opponents
In four areas with a large percentage of Muslim constituents, seasoned Labour MPs lost their seats to independent candidates running on pro-Palestinian campaigns.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFUpdated: JULY 5, 2024 17:50Britain's Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth, delivers his keynote speech on the final day of the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, Britain, October 11, 2023(photo credit: PHIL NOBLE/REUTERS)
While Britain on Friday saw the Labour Party win the most seats during the election, some well-seasoned party veterans have lost their seats over their stance on the Israel-Hamas war, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
Labour lost four seats to pro-Palestinian independent candidates. These losses all occurred during constituencies with a large number of Muslim residents, the Times claimed.
Shadow cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth was one of the four to lose his seat for Leicester South; an area where 35% of the population identify as Muslim. His seat will now belong to an independent candidate running on a pro-Palestinian ticket who won by 979 votes.
Shockat Adam, the independent who took Ashworth’s seat, said his win was “an indication to those who have been in power for so long that you cannot forget the people that you serve.”
“This is a humble gesture,” he said. “This is for the people of Gaza.”
“This is for Gaza.”Shockat Adam, the newly elected independent MP for Leicester South, addressed the crowd, calling for unity and dedicating his win to Gaza. Adam has unseated Labour shadow cabinet minister Jon Ashworth. pic.twitter.com/11KYHbWfpb
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer walk outside a polling station during the general election in London, Britain, July 4, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska)
Labour Members of Parliament grip their seats
Dewsbury and Batley in West Yorkshire and Blackburn in Lancashire, where the Muslim population is estimated to be around 45% in both locations, Labour failed to secure seats.
Other Labour members kept their seats, but only narrowly won the majority vote. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting and Jess Phillips beat their pro-Palestinian independent opposition by only 528 and 693.
Phillips had outrightly stated to the BBC that the war being fought in Gaza was a “massive issue” in the constituency.
